5 Youngest Batters To Score Hundreds In T20 World Cup History

Ahmed Shehzad Yuvraj Samra and Suresh Raina in frame [Source: X]

T20I centuries in the World Cup are a rare sight, and highlighting that rarity, Canada’s 19-year-old Yuvraj Samra has etched his name in history with a century against New Zealand on February 17.

The T20 World Cup 2026 clash between Canada and New Zealand saw the youngster smash a 58-ball hundred to push Canada’s total to a strong mark against the Black Caps.

Yuvraj Samra has been a rising prodigy for Canada and is now one of the youngest batters to score a century in a T20 World Cup. Interestingly, in this edition of the tournament, only Pathum Nissanka had scored a century before him, achieving the feat on February 16 against Australia.

With this knock, Samra has placed himself among a list of young legends who have scored centuries in this mega ICC event. Let’s take a look at those players.

5) Glenn Phillips vs Sri Lanka (25y 327d)

At 25 years and 327 days, Glenn Phillips smashed a century against Sri Lanka in the Men's T20 World Cup 2022. The match, held in Sydney on October 29, saw Phillips score a 64-ball 104 to help New Zealand post a respectable total after the top and middle order collapsed like a house of cards.

Phillips’ 104 guided the team to 167 on the board, which they successfully defended by dismantling the Sri Lankan batting line-up, courtesy of Trent Boult’s phenomenal four-wicket haul, along with two wickets each from Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi.

4) Alex Hales vs Sri Lanka (25y 83d)

During the T20 World Cup 2014, England's Alex Hales, at 25 years and 83 days old, scored a fiery century to rescue England in a 190-run chase against Sri Lanka. The match, held in Chittagong on March 27, saw Sri Lanka post 189 runs on the board, with England opener Michael Lumb falling early to unsettle the Three Lions.

Moeen Ali also departed for a golden duck. It was Alex Hales’ heroic 116 off 64 balls that kept England in the chase, with Eoin Morgan chipping in later. Hales struck six sixes and 11 boundaries at a strike rate of 181.25, and his magnificent century sealed the win for England.

3) Suresh Raina vs South Africa (23y 156d)

During a group stage match between India and South Africa on May 2 in the 2010 T20 World Cup, a young Suresh Raina, aged 23 years and 156 days, scored an unbeaten 60-ball 101 to steer his team to victory. 

After India found themselves in a precarious position following the early dismissals of Dinesh Karthik and Murali Vijay, Raina stepped in to steady the ship for the Men in Blue.

His innings, laced with five sixes and nine boundaries, powered India forward, with Yuvraj Singh contributing 37 runs. India posted 186 on the board, which was successfully defended by Yusuf Pathan, Ashish Nehra, and the bowling unit, as South Africa were restricted to 172 in their chase.

2) Ahmed Shehzad vs Bangladesh (22y 127d)

It was a young Ahmed Shehzad’s 62-ball 111 that steered Pakistan to victory against Bangladesh in a group stage match of the T20 World Cup 2014 at Mirpur. Shehzad, opening the innings, played an unbeaten knock of 111 at the age of 22 years and 127 days, alongside players like Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez.

While the rest of Pakistan’s middle and lower order failed to contribute significantly, Shehzad’s innings powered the team to a total of 190. Bangladesh failed to chase the target and were restricted to 140, courtesy of Umar Gul’s three-wicket haul and Saeed Ajmal’s two wickets, which derailed their chase.

1) Yuvraj Samra vs New Zealand (19y 141d)

Canada's young batting prodigy, Yuvraj Samra, made history by becoming the youngest player to score a century in a T20 World Cup at 19 years and 141 days old. Yuvraj Samra took responsibility for Canada as the team struggled with their middle-order batters. 

Coming in to open, Samra scored a 65-ball 110, laced with six sixes and 11 boundaries, at a strike rate of 169.23. His sense of responsibility was evident as wickets fell at the other end while he steered Canada’s innings forward.